Elimination Final – 22 August 2009
Coventry Bears secured the Midlands Premier title for the second time in three seasons with a comprehensive 48-16 win over Derby City at sunbaked Old Coventrians. A burst of five unanswered tries either side of the interval took the game away from City who had battled hard to take an early lead. The final scoreline did little justice to their efforts but the Bears were worthy winners.
The opening half hour was a hard struggle. Tanaka Chamunokara opened the scoring for the Bears but Dave Fitchett levelled matters with a try after Luke Peach’s kick had taken a wicked bounce.
When Bears’ prop Alan Robinson was sinbinned for a late tackle on Peach, Paul Worthington edged City in front with the penalty but the visitors failed to make the most of their man advantage.
The Bears recovered the restart and Nathan Tilsley dived over from dummy half to edge the home side in front. That looked like being the situation at the interval but Dean Thompson and Ben Hands crossed for classy individual efforts to send the Bears into the shade ahead by 18-6.
The Bears immediately went on the attack in the second period, forcing a GLDO and after Brad Massey was held up short of the line, Mark Challis dummied over in the corner.
The Bears marched back upfield and Chamunokara broke a tackle to race to the posts for his second try before smooth handling sent Sam Montague away to the posts for a delightful score. Tilsley was having an off day with the boot but made no mistake with the kick to put the Bears 34-6 ahead and with one hand firmly on the title.
City were looking tired and a rout seemed a distinct possibility but they forced an error on the restart and Jonathan Edwards crashed over for a try converted by Worthington. They scored again immediately afterwards as, after winning a repeat set, Ian Gilmour’s neat kick through was touched down by James Turner to give City a glimmer of hope.
However, the Bears had too much pace out wide and Stuart Lee finished a good move after Matt Cooper had recovered the ball from the kick off. Then, Montague came into the line and split the defence before feeding Hands who sped away to the posts.
City battled hard but, apart from a couple of kicks towards the ingoal, were unable to break the defence again and the Bears had the final say, Cooper blasting through the middle to find Thompson on his shoulder for the Bears’ tenth try that secured the silverware.
Teams:
COVENTRY BEARS: Sam Montague, Dean Thompson, Stuart Lee, Ben Hands, Tanaka Chamunokara, Alistair Marshall, Nathan Tilsley, Ryan Jenkins (Capt.), Matt Allsopp, Mark Challis, Aaron Jarvis, Brad Massey, Matt Cooper. Replacements: Ben Powis, Simon Stubbs, Mitch Todd, Alan Robinson.
DERBY CITY: Ian Gilmour, Ian Dennant, Tristan Gill, Dave Bussell, Jon Cartlidge, Luke Peach, Paul Worthington (Capt), Gareth Daikin, Michael Turner, Jon Edwards, Mark Rollinson, David Fitchett, James Turner. Replacements: James Feeley, Harry Chiemel, Scott Hudson.
Referee: Robert Webb (Leigh RLRS)
Touch Judges: Jamie Reed, Ben Moses.
Scoring sequence: 4-0, 4-4, 4-6, 8-6, 12-6, 18-6, (HT), 22-6, 28-6, 34-6, 34-12, 34-16, 38-16, 44-16, 48-16, (FT).
GRAND FINAL SCORERS
Bears: Tries; Tanaka Chamunokara (2), Nathan Tilsley, Dean Thompson (2), Ben Hands (2), Mark Challis, Sam Montague, Stuart Lee. Goals; Nathan Tilsley 4 from 10.
City: Tries; Dave Fitchett, Jon Edwards, James Turner. Goals; Paul Worthington 2 from 4.
MAN OF THE MATCH AWARD WINNERS
Bears; Ben Hands (centre)
City; Dave Fitchett (second row)
History was made when three sides ended level on 16 points at the end of the regular season, the finishing positions being determined by their head to head record. Although Derby City had a better point’s difference – by three – it was Coventry Bears who were placed atop the standings by virtue of their performances against Derby and Bristol Sonics who take the third spot.
TOP SCORERS (Including Play-Off games):
Tries:
13 – Tanaka Chamunokara (Coventry Bears)
12 – Tristan Gill (Derby City)
11 – James Gross (Bristol Sonics)
9 – Dom Swann (Bristol Sonics)
9 – Ty Watson (Leicester Phoenix)
8 – Danny Bancroft (Birmingham Bulldogs)
8 – Darren Birch (Leicester Phoenix)
8 – James Turner (Derby City)
6 – Jon Cartlidge (Derby City)
6 – Dan Evans (Bristol Sonics)
6 – Ian Gilmour (Derby City)
6 – Ben Hands (Coventry Bears)
6 – Ryan Jenkins (Coventry Bears)
6 – Paul Szehofner (Telford Raiders)
6 – Clinton Tull (Birmingham Bulldogs)
6 – Parminder Tutt (Telford Raiders)
5 – Richard Blagg (Derby City)
5 – John-Jo Burden (Bristol Sonics)
5 – Gareth Daikin (Derby City)
5 – Stephan Fourie (Gloucestershire Warriors)
5 – Drew Harper (Birmingham Bulldogs)
5 – Darren Hersey (Derby City)
5 – Joel Keane (Bristol Sonics)
5 – Stuart Lee (Coventry Bears)
5 – Harry Marson (Bristol Sonics)
5 – Karl Wesley (Coventry Bears)
5 – Richie Whitehouse (Coventry Bears)
Goals (Including field goals):
54 – Paul Worthington (Derby City)
39 – Dom Swann (Bristol Sonics)
35 – Danny Bancroft (Birmingham Bulldogs)
33 – Nathan Walmsley (Leicester Phoenix)
31 – Nathan Tilsley (Coventry Bears)
Points:
119 – Paul Worthington (3 tries, 53 goals, 1 field goal)
114 – Dom Swann (9 tries, 39 goals)
102 – Danny Bancroft (8 tries, 35 goals)
79 – Nathan Walmsley (3 tries, 33 goals, 1 field goal)
70 – Nathan Tilsley (2 tries, 31 goals)
52 – Tanaka Chaunukawa (13 tries)
48 – Tristan Gill (12 tries)
44 – James Gross (11 tries)
36 – Ty Watson (9 tries)
33 – Richie Whitehouse (Coventry Bears) (5 tries, 6 goals, 1 field goal)
32 – Darren Birch (8 tries)
32 – James Turner (8 tries)
30 – Clinton Tull (6 tries, 3 goals)
27 – Ian Gilmour (6 tries, 1 goal, 1 field goal)
26 – Stephan Fourie (5 tries, 2 goals, 2 field goals)
26 – Joel Keane (5 tries, 3 goals)
24 – Jon Cartlidge (6 tries)
24 – Danny Davis (Gloucestershire Warriors) (3 tries, 6 goals)
24 – Dan Evans (6 tries)
24 – Ben Hands (6 tries)
24 – Ryan Jenkins (6 tries)
24 – Paul Szehofner (6 tries)
24 – Parminder Tutt (6 tries)
Remaining fixtures:
Sunday 6 September
Harry Jepson Trophy Semi Final
Coventry Bears v Lymm RL or Kippax
Sunday 13 September
Harry Jepson Trophy Grand Final
At Haslams, Derby
